Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie is one of the most influential literary and cultural voices of the 21st century. Born in the Nigerian city of Enugu in 1977, the writer grew up in an academic environment, developing her passion for literature and storytelling.

As is customary each year, regulatory bodies at both the global and European levels have published their annual work programs. These documents set out the various regulatory initiatives they plan to introduce in 2026, as well as those rolled over from previous years. These programs reveal that banking regulatory activity will remain intense, albeit marked by notable divergences in the approaches and objectives pursued across different geographic regions.

BBVA Spark will take part for the fourth consecutive year in 4YFN, the leading event for startups, investors and corporates held within the framework of the Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona. The event comes at a key moment for the unit. Since its launch, BBVA Spark has committed close to €1 billion in financing and, in the past year alone, signed more than 30 deals with innovative, high-growth companies across Europe and Latin America.

To reach the 2030 decarbonization targets and remain competitive in the European clean industrial transition, Spain and Portugal need up to €50 billion per year in additional public and private investment. This is according to the report, ‘Cleantech Investment Plan for the Iberian Peninsula’ by Cleantech for Iberia, which underscores that companies need greater financial support in the scaling phase to launch their projects.

Garanti BBVA has provided €13 million to UNO, one of Türkiye’s leading bread manufacturers. The funding will modernize production lines to reduce natural gas and electricity consumption, enhance energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions.

The BBVA Foundation has awarded the Frontiers of Knowledge Award in Economics, Finance and Management to Charles Manski for his pioneering contributions to the measurement of uncertainty in economic research and its application to public policy analysis. His work has influenced the fields of education, health, labor markets, industrial policy, and social programs.

BBVA’s sustainable business continued to grow at a strong pace in 2025. The bank channeled €134 billion, representing 44 percent growth over 2024. This figure marks an annual record for the financial institution, which aims to mobilize €700 billion between 2025 and 2029.

BBVA took part in SAP Concur Day 2026, held this Wednesday, February 18, where speakers explored payment integration, process automation, artificial intelligence, and the ongoing transformation of corporate expense management. The event brought together companies and digitalization experts and used cinema as a narrative thread to highlight the challenges of managing expenses. At the event, BBVA showcased BBVA Pivot—its treasury management platform—and explained how companies can simplify the entire process, from payment through reconciliation, while gaining greater control, efficiency, and financial visibility.

Operating in the world’s largest and most competitive financial market requires more than scale. It requires focus, specialisation and flawless execution. BBVA has chosen a clear and deliberate strategy: to grow selectively, where it can deliver genuine differentiated value and build long-term relationships with large corporates and financial institutions. Regina Gil, Head of BBVA CIB in the United States, outlines the keys to a sustained ambition in an environment that demands excellence in execution.

BBVA placed $2.5 billion in a senior non-preferred debt issuance denominated in US dollars on Monday, in three tranches. This is the largest dollar issuance in the Group's history. Demand reached $9.2 billion, almost four times the amount offered.

BBVA has participated in the structuring and executing a new €800 million syndicated loan for Meliá Hotels International, Spain’s leading hotel group and a benchmark name in the domestic equity market. The transaction marks a strategic milestone for the company, representing its first major syndicated financing in nearly two decades.

BBVA has been named 'Best Trade Finance Bank in Latin America' by Global Finance in its 2026 edition, marking the fourth consecutive year the international publication has recognized the bank’s leadership in trade finance across the region. In addition, Global Finance highlighted BBVA’s excellence in this business line in Peru, Argentina, and Uruguay. This award further consolidates BBVA’s position as a benchmark in international trade solutions and strengthens its value proposition at the regional level.

Garanti BBVA Talent Week 2026 will offer university students and recent graduates the opportunity to explore career paths ranging from banking to technology, meet senior leaders, and experience the skills of the future first-hand. The application period runs through February 19.

Achieving significant business growth and committing to ambitious climate action are not mutually exclusive, as demonstrated by the UK’s Atom bank, an app based savings and lending firm that BBVA has invested in since 2016. The bank's most recent annual Sustainability Report underscores key achievements in its commitment to becoming climate positive from 2035, notably a 22% reduction in operational emissions concurrent with a period of record balance sheet growth.

BBVA México, acting as Joint Bookrunner, supported El Puerto de Liverpool, S.A.B. de C.V.,  one of Mexico’s leading retail companies, in the successful issuance of notes for a total amount of US$500 million. The transaction will bear interest at a rate of 5.750% and will mature in 2038, strengthening the company’s financial position.

American oncologist Carl June and French geneticist Michel Sadelain have been awarded the Frontiers of Knowledge Award for revolutionizing cancer treatment through immunotherapy based on so-called CAR-T cells. Their work has paved the way for therapies therapies for patients with various types of blood cancer, including leukemia, which have already benefited “tens of thousands of individuals, including many children,” according to the award committee’s citation.

A custom-designed ATM manufactured from waste and scrap materials and powered entirely by renewable energy has become a symbol of how innovative employee ideas at Garanti BBVA are turned into tangible projects — and of how sustainability has become an organic part of the organization’s culture.

BBVA Mexico acted as bookrunner in the successful issuance of Development Banking Bonds by Nacional Financiera, S.N.C. (Nafin). The transaction achieved total demand of MXN 11.688 billion with a three-year maturity.

BBVA’s Board of Directors is to propose to the Annual General Meeting the appointment of Jordi Montalbo Todolí as an independent board member. His academic background and professional credentials bring extensive knowledge of the financial sector, together with solid expertise in risk management and auditing.

BBVA’s Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) division recorded revenues of €6,558 million in 2025, up 29% from 2024 (at constant euros, not including the effect of hyperinflation accounting). All business units contributed to this growth, posting double-digit year-on-year increases that underscore the strength and diversification of the division: Global Markets (GM) +35%, Global Transaction Banking (GTB) +19%, and Investment Banking & Finance (IB&F) +33%. Loans activity also showed a very positive performance, increasing 28% compared to December 2024. This growth was driven by both GTB and IB&F, supported by notable project finance and corporate lending transactions in Spain, Europe, and the United States. Attributable profit reached €3,073 million, representing a 32% year-on-year increase. Overall, 2025 marked a continued path of rising profitability across businesses, with solid performance in all geographies.

Garanti BBVA announced its financial results for 2025, reporting a net income of TL 111.26 billion. Total assets reached TL 4.55 trillion, and lending stood at TL 3.49 trillion. Customer deposits amounted to TL 3.14 trillion, representing growth of 50 percent over the previous year. Meanwhile, the bank maintained its strong capital position, with a capital adequacy ratio of 17.5¹ percent. Return on average equity (ROAE) reached 29.1 percent and return on average assets (ROAA) was 2.9 percent.

¹Does not include the forbearance introduced by BRSA

BBVA has joined a consortium of eleven major European financial institutions that have formed a joint venture, Qivalis, to launch a euro-pegged stablecoin. The aim is to enable faster and cheaper payments, as well as the settlement of digital assets within a regulated environment backed by all the safeguards that a European bank can offer. The commercial launch is slated for the second half of 2026, once the technical and regulatory developments have been completed.

Garanti BBVA surpassed TL 1 trillion in sustainable finance as of January 2026, in line with its new target of TL 3.5 trillion for the 2018-2029 period. This achievement is a reflection of the bank’s long-term commitment to sustainable finance.

Garanti BBVA was honored in three categories at the 2026 Global Finance Sustainable Finance Awards, underscoring its long-term commitment to sustainability and its tangible impact through innovative financing. The bank was named ‘Turkey’s Best Sustainable Finance Bank,’ while its financing for the Antalya-Alanya Highway Project earned it awards for the ‘Sustainable Finance Deal of the Year in Central & Eastern Europe’ and ‘Best Bank Supporting Communities in Central & Eastern Europe.’ This international recognition reflects Garanti BBVA’s leadership in sustainable finance and its ability to deliver measurable contributions in Türkiye and the wider region.

The financing, closed at the end of 2025, aims to support the scaling of Lanes & Planes, the leading provider of digital solutions for mid-market business travel and expense management. The facility will serve to finance the company's growth. This financing partially benefits from the support of the European Union and the European Investment Fund (EIF) under the InvestEU program.

Garanti BBVA has extended its partnership with the Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) for another five years. The sponsorship, which began in 2001, is the longest-running sponsorship agreement in the history of Turkish basketball. TBF President Hidayet Türkoğlu and Garanti BBVA CEO Mahmut Akten announced the agreement at a signing ceremony on January 27, where they shared their commitment to continuing their collaboration to support Turkish basketball.